Inpatient Behavioral Health Therapist

Job Posting

St. Mary's Healthcare has been providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare to the people of Montgomery and Fulton counties since 1903. At St. Mary's Hospital, the Rao Outpatient Pavilion and other locations, the local, independent healthcare organization offers the comprehensive, critical services its community needs and deserves. St. Mary's Healthcare has also been named a 2026 Times Union Top Workplace—the first acute care hospital in the Capital Region to earn the distinction since the Times Union launched the recognition program 14 years ago.

Employment Type: Full-Time

Shift: Days

Hours Per Week: 40 Hours

Location: St Mary's Inpatient

Hiring range: $66,664.00- $91,826.80

The actual compensation for this position will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.

Responsibilities

This position is primarily responsible for providing therapeutic support, care coordination, and advocacy for patients in the mental health unit and as a liaison for the medical floors and emergency department. The Inpatient Behavioral Health Therapist plans and implements therapeutic services for an inpatient behavioral health population, working closely with the interdisciplinary team. This position can also provide coverage of crisis evaluations in the emergency department.

Assessments

Completes timely Psychosocial Assessment/Interview following patient admission to the mental health unit. Develops initial treatment plan, participates in treatment plan reviews on an ongoing basis with treatment team, amends plan as needed evaluating the patient's social, emotional, and mental health status. Additionally, evaluates Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) status when indicated, to understand patient needs and develops individualized care plans.

Treatment Planning

Develops appropriate plan of care based on patient assessment, collateral information from outpatient supports and family to provide effective psychotherapy and plan of care. Facilitates and runs inpatient therapeutic groups on the unit, provides therapy to address mental health concerns, improve coping skills, and promote wellbeing.

Implementation

Provides individual psychotherapy based on plan of care as well as additional group therapies, including but not limited to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and substance abuse education. Conducts family sessions as indicated, as well as involve families in plan of care, when appropriate.

Evaluation of Outcomes

Evaluates patient status on an ongoing basis making appropriate changes in plan of care as needed to ensure successful outcomes. Conduct Q/A to evaluate social work process to create increasingly successful outcomes.

Discharge Plans

Develops discharge plans including the arrangement of necessary continued therapy and other social services. Presents discharge plan to the therapy team and revises plan according to suggestions; involves patient, family and/or significant others in discharge planning and educates them about options and possible outcomes. Confers with referring agents as necessary. Assists patients and family with discharge planning to long term residential placements/halfway house placements as needed. Completes necessary discharge documentation for each patient in a thorough manner.

Professional Practice

Collaborates in hospital committees, councils, program and policy development, unit policies/projects, as well as professional organizations. Stays informed about current mental health research, advocates for policy changes, and participates in community initiatives to improve mental health services.

Teaching/Mentoring

Provides education and mentoring to new staff, case manager, peers, and community related to mental health diagnoses, treatments, and community supports.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training & Experience:

• Master's degree in social work (MSW) or bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field. If MSW, degree is acquired than a New York State Clinical Social Worker (LMSW) licensure is required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of inpatient psychiatric experience is preferred.

Required Skills and Attributes

• Ability to organize and establish day-to-day priorities while using critical thinking skills in all aspects of the job.
• Must be able to multitask while remaining professional, focused, composed and positive.
• Excellent customer service skills
• Displays integrity, friendliness, and compassion.
• Must be able to establish an appropriate and effective rapport with others.
• Demonstrates flexibility
• Takes initiative
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment
• Embraces new opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.
• Effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with various Microsoft Office products (Word and Excel).
• Strong organizational skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to take and follow direction in a positive and appropriate manner.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently. Must be able to demonstrate effective and appropriate written and oral communication skills.
• Must be able to speak, read, write and follow instructions in English

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.